Night Meetings Proposed School Board Vote Scheduled Nov. 18

While the three Republicans seeking Broward School Board seats were defeated last week, at least one of their campaign promises may still become reality.

The board appears braced to start conducting one of its regular meetings or conference sessions at night each month to allow more parent involvement.

Board members will vote on the issue Nov. 18 during their annual organizational meeting. At that time, the board will install new members, elect new officers and set meeting times for the next year.

Republican candidates LaJune Lundquist, Ron Houchins and Darlene Holley, who lost in their bids to be elected to the board, had made night meetings a priority of their campaigns.

``I think it`s worth trying it for a while to see how it works,`` said board member Lori Parrish, who added that she will likely propose scheduling one regular board meeting at night each month.

The board currently holds meetings twice monthly, at 10 a.m. on Thursdays.

Board member Neil Sterling said he intended to suggest that one of the board`s conference sessions -- now held on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. -- be held at night.

Conference sessions are generally when board members discuss issues that will be voted on during the regular meeting. Sterling said such a setting is more conducive to parent participation. He also said he would propose holding the night conference at alternating sites in the county.

``I think the issue is how we can increase public participation,`` Sterling said. ``Then the question is, would night meetings do that? If so, we have to decide which meeting we should have during the evening.

``I think the conference is more ideal because the nature is less formal and it would be easier to promote the give and take.``

Five of the seven board members -- including new members Eileen Schwartz and Bob Parks -- have expressed a willingness to conduct evening meetings.

If the board should decide to hold regular night meetings, it won`t be the first time. Meetings were held at 7:30 p.m. until the 1982-83 school year, when the switch was made to 10 a.m.

Proposals to hold board meetings regularly at night have failed to gain majority support since that time.

Requiring staff members to stay for night meetings after they have completed a day`s work and doubts about increased parent participation were frequently cited as arguments against switching meetings back to night. Meetings also tended to run into the early morning hours.

The board has continued to hold its annual boundary hearings at night. Law also requires budget hearings to be held after 5 p.m.

Board Chairperson Jan Cummings said she remained opposed to holding meetings at night regularly because ``the board is a business.``

``It`s very difficult to make important education decisions at 2 or 3 o`clock in the morning,`` Cummings said. ``It`s also very expensive to have staff members work all day and then pay them to work all night.

``Besides, we already receive parental input throughout the school system.``

Board member Toni Siskin, who frequently suggested having night meetings during the first two years of her first term on the board, said she was unsure whether she would support the idea now. Siskin and Cummings were re-elected to the board last week.

Conducting meetings at night ``is a very motherhood-and-apple-pie issue,`` Siskin said. ``We`d like to have the public there, but I`m not sure if it would increase participation. I have a different perspective now than when I was first elected. I can see the other side of the issue.``